The AAO-HNSF 2025 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO will feature another round of innovative programming and dynamic events based on attendees’ feedback. Below is a list of new additions and enhanced offerings, many of which focus on bringing together the community for important discussions. View the full schedule to further explore some of the new session types, and register today!
Childcare Program | Mini ENT Camp
Full-day and half-day programs for infants and children will be available during the 2025 Annual Meeting. Infants and toddlers will have separate play and rest areas, and will have access to toys and activities designed to let babies and toddlers explore, play and take in their surroundings as their age and interest level allows. Pre-school and school-aged children will be engaged through instructive play activities while fostering sharing and collaboration. Registration closes on September 11. Onsite registration will not be available. Learn more and register here.
Digital Scavenger Hunt
Join the fun with fellow attendees and take part in the scavenger hunt!
A digital scavenger hunt enables attendees to explore the OTO EXPO and convention center while incorporating fun concepts and activities for all. Attendees can access the game app through the Annual Meeting mobile app on their mobile device to complete challenges and earn points. More information will be provided closer to the Annual Meeting.
Game Changer 2025 | Research Shaping Our Specialty
AAO-HNSF journals Editor in Chief Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MS will present a handful of breakthrough studies that have fundamentally impacted clinical practice, patient outcomes, and our understanding of the specialty. Authors will have the opportunity to showcase the impact their work has had on patient care and clinical decision-making across the specialty. A variety of topics within the specialty are covered in the selected research, ensuring relevant takeaways regardless of your specific area of practice or interest.
Innovation Park
The Innovation Park serves as a premier showcase destination where cutting-edge medical technologies, devices, and solutions converge with the otolaryngology community. This exhibition space provides innovators and companies with an unparalleled opportunity to demonstrate their latest breakthroughs directly to practicing otolaryngologists, industry leaders, and decision-makers who are actively seeking solutions to enhance patient care. From emerging startups to established medical technology companies, the Innovation Park creates meaningful connections between solution providers and the physicians who can implement these innovations in their daily practice, fostering collaboration that drives the future of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery.
OTO Games: The Ultimate ENT Memory Showdown!
Ready to put your memory skills to the ultimate test? Join us for OTO Games – where medical knowledge meets memory mastery that’ll get your competitive spirit soaring! Race against fellow attendees in this high-energy memory game that’s equal parts brain workout and pure fun. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or rising resident, everyone’s invited to play, laugh, and maybe discover just how sharp (or rusty!) that medical memory really is.
Pardon the OTO-ruption
Based off the popular ESPN show “Pardon the Interruption,” “Pardon the OTO-ruption” will feature panelists debating the hottest topics across a variety of specialty areas, including Laryngology/Broncho-Esophagology, Otology/Neurology, Private Practice, and Rhinology/Allergy. A referee will decide a winner, but the real winners will be attendees who gain knowledge from some of the brightest minds in the specialty.
Problem-Based Learning
These dynamic, problem-based learning activities will combine scientific medical evidence with actual clinical experience in a collaborative environment designed to sharpen otolaryngologists’ clinical reasoning and decision-making skills. These small group, interactive sessions will place otolaryngologists at the center of patient cases developed from clinical practice, offering a unique challenge to their critical thinking skills.
Research & Quality Engagement Hub
The AAO-HNSF Research & Quality (R&Q) Engagement Hub is expanding value to attendees with hands-on activities, live data displays, and exclusive presentations designed for healthcare professionals at every level. Save these can’t-miss sessions to stay connected with the AAO-HNSF and up-to-date about the latest advances in R&Q!
Simulation Opportunities
The Simulation Education offerings for the 2025 Annual Meeting have been expanded. Conveniently located adjacent to the OTO EXPO floor at no additional cost to registered attendees, these hands-on learning opportunities allow otolaryngologists to practice cutting-edge techniques in a risk-free environment with expert faculty guidance. From new procedures to advanced technologies, there’s something valuable for otolaryngologists at every career stage.
The Talking Point
The Talking Point is #OTOMTG25’s dynamic interactive social hub where attendees charge their devices while engaging in meaningful conversations that shape the story of the Annual Meeting. This innovative space features daily positioning graphs, question boards, and advice walls that reveal fascinating patterns about our ENT community, plus custom photo frames for capturing conference memories and space for conducting interviews with colleagues. Each day brings unique interactive experiences.
Traveling Museum
Step into medical history with the 2025 Traveling Museum, a captivating exhibit dedicated to Chevalier Q. Jackson (1865–1958), the legendary “father of endoscopy.” This remarkable collection showcases Jackson’s original bronchoscopes and laryngoscopes alongside medical paintings, textbooks, photographs, and personal memorabilia that chronicle his groundbreaking contributions to otolaryngology. The exhibit offers attendees a unique opportunity to explore the rich heritage of the specialty while gaining inspiration for future innovations.
“Wait, Wait Do Tell Me”
Inspired by NPR’s “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” weekly news quiz show, “Wait, Wait Do Tell Me” is a unique twist on the popular show, specifically for otolaryngologists. Michael Platt, MD will host, and AAO-HNSF journals Editor in Chief Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc, and Associate Editors, Michael J. Brenner, MD, and James G. Naples, MD, will be the inaugural participants.
Wellness Zone sponsored by Sanofi
Surgeons often prioritize patient care over their own wellbeing. This new experience in the OTO EXPO area is designed to help surgeons decompress and recharge through the following offerings:
- Reflexology
- Compression + Eye Massage
- Red Light Therapy
- Rapid Release Massage
- Immunity Bar
- Wellness Pantry
- Wellness Classes
The Academy hopes that surgeons take some of these actionable strategies home to implement long-term to reduce stress.
